Considerations for a Modern Distribution Grid
A Collaboration with State Commissions & Industry to Define Grid
Modernization in the Context of States’ Policies
Pacific Coast Inter-Staff Collaboration Summit
May 24, 2017
Project Overview
Challenge:
What is the appropriate investment strategy for enabling DER integration and
utilization?
• Encompasses technological, business and policy considerations
• Implications for planning, operations and markets
Origin:
Initiated by CA and NY regulatory commissions to address consistency (+ DC, MN
and HI) to examine a next generation distribution system platform (DSPx)
Objectives:
Phase 1 – draft materials complete May 2017
• Develop a consistent taxonomy of DSPx capabilities & functions to satisfy states’ policy
objectives
• Determine technology maturity and remaining gaps needed to enable distribution system
functions (next 5 years)
• Provide considerations for the effective deployment of grid capabilities over time to meet
evolving customer needs and states’ policy objectives
Phase 2 – 2017 and beyond
• Collaborate with regulators, utility industry, and national laboratories to address technological
gaps and refine approaches for the prudent deployment of grid capabilities
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3
Phase I Deliverables
Volume I
Customer and State
Policy Driven
Functionality
(V.1 Final)
• Defines DSPx functional scope
‒ Taxonomic organization of DSPx capabilities, functions and elements
mapped to state grid modernization objectives within a
planning/operations/market framework
• Grid architecture context
‒ Comparative assessment of industry architectural applications
Volume II
Advanced
Technology Maturity
Assessment
• DSPx technology maturity in relation to Vol I functions and elements
‒ Assesses availability and gaps in commercial technology needed for DSPx
functions and elements; applies technology adoption curves
(V.1 Final)
• Guide for modern grid implementation
Volume III
Decision Guide
(under development)
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‒ Provides considerations for implementing the functionality for an advanced
distribution grid, including core platform components
‒ Examines coordination and communication network considerations,
voltage management with smart inverters, and DER aggregation and
optimization
Modern Grid Evolution
Needs & objectives drive grid capabilities and corresponding
enabling business functionality and technology
Grid Capabilities
New
Functions
Existing
Market Operations
Grid Operations
Planning
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Reliability, Safety
& Operational
Efficiency
DER Integration
DER Utilization
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State Objectives are Fairly Consistent
Leading to grid properties enabling DER utilization – though
timing, scale and scope are different
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6
Distribution Platform Capabilities
From DSPx Volume 1 – Customer and State Policy
Driven Functionality, version 1.1, March 23, 2017
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Integrated Planning Considerations
Integrated planning and analysis needed within and across the
transmission, distribution and customer/3rd party domains
From “Integrated Distribution Planning”, August 2016,
prepared for the MN PUC, ICF International
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Grid Architecture
Getting structure right simplifies the downstream decisions
• Grid Architecture treats
the grid as a network of
structures
• Grid structure is changing
• Some legacy structures
need to be changed to
relieve constraints
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Coordination Considerations
Laminar coordination framework enables scaling and optimization at
both local and system levels
From JD Taft, Architectural Basis for Highly Distributed Power Grids:
Frameworks, Networks, and Grid Codes, PNNL-25480, June 2016
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Platform Considerations
Core components are foundational; applications layer on this
foundation as additional functionality is needed
Modern Distribution Grid
Advanced Technology
Maturity Assessment
From DSPx, Volume 3 – Decision Guide, under review
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Timing & Pace Considerations
Customer Value
US distribution system is currently in Stage 1 and the issue is whether and
how fast to transition into Stage 2. Pace & scope of investments are driven
by customer needs & policy objectives. Proportional deployment to align
with customer value
Time
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Summary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Identify Customer Needs & Societal Objectives
Identify Capabilities & Functionality Needed
Develop a Grid Architecture
Develop Related Designs
Select Appropriate Grid Technologies
Develop a Deployment Roadmap aligned to Pace &
Scope of Needs
Implement Proportionally to Customer Value
Thank You
Contacts:
Joe Paladino, [email protected]
Paul De Martini [email protected]
Jeffrey Taft [email protected]
Laura Wang [email protected]
References:
www.doe-dspx.org
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http//gridarchitecture.pnnl.gov
https://emp.lbl.gov/projects/feur